Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969)
"Doppelgänger" (original title)

A planet is discovered in the same orbit as Earth's but is located on the exact opposite side of the sun, making it not visible from Earth. The European Space Exploration Council decide to ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Parrish

Writers:

Gerry Anderson (story), Sylvia Anderson (story),

Stars:

Roy Thinnes, Ian Hendry, Patrick Wymark

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roy Thinnes	...	Colonel Glenn Ross
Ian Hendry	...	John Kane
Patrick Wymark	...	Jason Webb
Lynn Loring	...	Sharon Ross
Loni von Friedl	...	Lisa Hartmann
Franco De Rosa	...	Paulo Landi (as Franco Derosa)
George Sewell	...	Mark Neuman
Ed Bishop	...	David Poulson (as Edward Bishop)
Philip Madoc	...	Dr. Pontini
Vladek Sheybal	...	Psychiatrist
George Mikell
Herbert Lom	...	Doctor Hassler

Storyline

A planet is discovered in the same orbit as Earth's but is located on the exact opposite side of the sun, making it not visible from Earth. The European Space Exploration Council decide to send American astronaut Glenn Ross and British scientist John Kane via spaceship to explore the other planet. After a disastrous crash-landing Ross awakes to learn that Kane lies near death and that they apparently have returned to Earth, as evidenced by the presence of the Council director and his staff. Released to the custody of his wife, he soon learns things are not as they seem.

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Plot Keywords:

planet | astronaut | sun | 2060s | outer space | 

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Taglines:

Man has conquered the moon with the epic Apollo 11 flight! Now take another momentous journey!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Journey to the Far Side of the Sun

Filming Locations:

Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Century 21 Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Patrick Wymark's character complains of heart trouble early in the film. Ironically, Wymark really did have a bad heart and died the following year.

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Goofs

When Dr. Hassler is developing the film from his eye camera, he does so under a red safelight. However, red light will fog undeveloped film; only photo paper is non-responsive to red light.

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Quotes

Lisa Hartmann: That was a penny for your thoughts. If they are as confused as mine, perhaps sharing them will help?
Glenn Ross: Did you say a penny? Well, it's a buyer's market.

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Connections

Edited into Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007)

User Reviews

Undiscovered Sci-Fi Gem

This is the question that astronauts Roy Thinnes and Ian Hendry ask themselves when they discover a parallel world of Earth always hidden on the far side of the sun in this 1969 cult science fiction melodrama, released here in America as JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN. The plot of the film was devised by British writers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the creators of such TV shows as "UFO", "The Thunderbirds" and "Space 1999". It is exceedingly weird at times, betraying the influence of "The Twilight Zone" and even Stanley Kubrick's classic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. The visual effects work of Derek Meddings, who would also later work on SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE, holds up surprisingly well under the last three decades of special effects advancements; and while they are not really on the same exalted level of the Kubrick film, they are very superb. If you don't anticipate a STAR WARS-type of a film and can overcome the occasionally trite dialogue, DOPPELGANGER is a good film; it was good enough for me to rank it a '7' and consider it an undiscovered sci-fi gem.